Artificial minnow or fish.



J. W. CRANE & R. L. GRAVES..

ARTIPIGIAL MINNOW 0B. FISH.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 3, 1911.

Patented Dec. 5, 1911.

Inventor Attorneys Witnesses UNITED srrA'rEs PATENT OFFICE. A

JOSEPH WM. CRANE AND RICHMOND L. GRAVES, OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.

ARTIFICIAL MINNOW OR FISH.,

Specification of Letters latent.

Patented Dec. 5, 1911.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, Josnrn W. CRANE and RICHMOND L. GRAVES, citizens of the United States, residing at Memphis, in the county of Shelby, State of Tennessee, have invented a new and useful Artificial Minnow or Fish, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to artificial minnows or fish for use as a substitute for live fish for catching or snagging or in any other manner decoying and catching larger fish.

This invention has for its primary object to provide an artificial bait which will closely imitate the movement of a live minnow or fish when drawn through the water.

With the above and other objects in view the invention'resides essentially in a fish or minnow shaped body having an arcuate tube passing through the body, above the center thereof'and intermediate the head and tail of the body through which the fish hook may be inserted. The body is also highly colored to imitate the species of fish or minnow which it is desired to imitate, it being understood that various colorings may be employed to imitate various species of fish. The body of the fish or minnow is also prepared with a substance smelling strongly like fish, such as fish oil or the like. Thus a bait is formed which very closely imitates the real minnow or fish to deceive the unsuspecting larger fish which-upon attempting to swallow same becomes ensnared with the hook which is inserted through the arouate tube thus resulting in the same being caught and landed.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which similar refer ence characters mdicate similar parts and in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the artifi cial minnow as attached to a fish hook. Fig. 2 is a cross section thereof, taken through the hook receiving tube. Fig. 3 is a per spective of the hook receiving tube.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the body M of the minnow is formed of suitable cloth or rubber material, being preferably split lengthwise and centrally in a vertical plane into sections S which sections are ce-.

mented or otherwise secured together to form a hollow body which is stuffed with suitable material, or the body may be made solid. The outer surface of said body is highlycolored to imitate the species of fish it is desired to use as a bait and the body is also prepared with a substance smelling strongly like fish such as fish oil or the like lpreferably by saturating the stufiing of the ody.

An aperture A is arranged in each section at a point below the back fin F and an arcuate hook receiving tube T of rubber or other resilient material is mounted in said apertures and has a longitudinal split B therein extending from one extremity to the other extremity thereof. This tube therefore forms an arcuate opening through the body of the fish extending from side to side at a point below the backfin F and above the center of the body.

The hook H attached to the line L is hooked through the tube C, the prong thereof passing through the slit B, and as the line L is drawn forward when in use it causes a quivering movement of the body M as it passes through the water. The end of the hook H'is curved to fit snugly within the tube C thus causing the body M to remain in position with respect to the hook but allowing a slight yielding movement of the body with respect thereto to form the Wabbling or quivering motion of the body which closely imitates the movement of a live fish or minnow through the water. This tube C also prevents the motion of the hook with respect to the body or vice versa from damaging the body and therefore lengthens the life thereof.

An artificial minnow having the fore 0- ing characteristics forms a good bait or fishing and is a close imitation to the real minnow and assists in the luring and decoying of the larger fish and rapid catching thereof which are attracted by the odor, appearance and movement thereof.

What is claimed is z 1. An artificial minnow comprising a' body having an arcuate tube through the sides thereofadapted to snugly receive the curved end of a hook, whereby upon the minnow being drawn through the water a quivering movement is given thereto.

2. An artificial minnow comprisinia body as our own, we have hereto aflixed our sighaving an arcuate split I'GSllfGl'lt tu e assnatures in the presence of two witnesses. ing through the sides thereof, and a 00k JOSEPH 'WM. CRANE. having the curved end thereof fittlng snu 1y HM ND VE 5 through the said tube, whereby upon he RIG O GRA minnow being drawn through the water a Witnesses: quivering movement is given thereto. PHIL M. CANALE,

In testimony that we claim the foregoing JOHN D. MARTIN, 

